A little sonic love by way of Wales today. I'm feeling a little melancholy, a little nostalgic, and a little chilly. I'm sick. It's gloomy outside and summer already looks like it's drifting south for the winter around here. So, I'm looking for something warm in my ears, and this is definitely it. Colorama have a few albums under their belts already, but with each they seem to be settling deeper into a soft psych/folk groove that I am entirely enjoying. Full warm horns along with some standing bass and acoustic strumming, despite the frequently Welsh lyrics, feel like sunset at El Matador Beach, which is a place I'd quite like to be right about now. Waves of cold water, warmth of the sun, baking the sand...if I close my eyes I'm right there. And I don't have this swollen, scratchy throat in my imagination,either. Summer sickness be gone!
Boy I sure do like the way those Welsh folks roll their r's.
http://www.myspace.com/coloramasound
Monday, September 14, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
9/9/09 - Dead Man's Bones
First, a message from your humble blogger: If there's anyone here reading this regularly, I apologize for being a little remiss in posting lately. I've got some paying gig deadlines, and I haven't had my usual time to seek out new music that excites me. If I disappear here and there, I'll be back. Things get a lot better next month in the land of free time.
Now, Dead Man's Bones. Another in the list of actor/singers. This time, our entry comes by way of Ryan Gosling. Frankly, I'll admit, I'm really glad that his music is as hot as he is. In a creepy, funeral cabaret kind of way, at least.
The latest song is called "My Body's a Zombie For You" and incorporates the #1 musical flair of the millenium: the children's choir. Despite its overwhelming prevelance in indie and electronic music over the last year or two - Peter Bjorn & John, Justice, Sound of Arrows, Karen O's new song for "Where the Wild Things Are" - I still find it to be an appealing affectation. Yeah, I like ALL of those songs - either because of the kiddie warbling, or despite it depending on the day.
I guess the real surprise lies in the fact that Gosling, a former New Mickey Mouse Club cast member along with the lamentable Britney Spears, has not only managed to snare himself some credibility in the acting world, but isn't embarrassing himself on the mic either. Let's call it Elvis by way of Richard Hawley by way of Dresden Dolls or something like that...
Here's another song of his, complete with choir, live from where else? a cemetary.
Now, Dead Man's Bones. Another in the list of actor/singers. This time, our entry comes by way of Ryan Gosling. Frankly, I'll admit, I'm really glad that his music is as hot as he is. In a creepy, funeral cabaret kind of way, at least.
The latest song is called "My Body's a Zombie For You" and incorporates the #1 musical flair of the millenium: the children's choir. Despite its overwhelming prevelance in indie and electronic music over the last year or two - Peter Bjorn & John, Justice, Sound of Arrows, Karen O's new song for "Where the Wild Things Are" - I still find it to be an appealing affectation. Yeah, I like ALL of those songs - either because of the kiddie warbling, or despite it depending on the day.
I guess the real surprise lies in the fact that Gosling, a former New Mickey Mouse Club cast member along with the lamentable Britney Spears, has not only managed to snare himself some credibility in the acting world, but isn't embarrassing himself on the mic either. Let's call it Elvis by way of Richard Hawley by way of Dresden Dolls or something like that...
Here's another song of his, complete with choir, live from where else? a cemetary.
Friday, September 4, 2009
9/4: Flashback Friday - Hall & Oates
Yep, I'm going there. And here's why:
Wednesday I got a pair of free tickets to see Hall & Oates live. My appreciation for Daryl and John has been growing over the years, as I realize that they're probably one of the only actual legit blue-eyed soul groups with any chops. I grew up on this stuff and never really thought of it as even vaguely r&b, but the way they sang it Wednesday night it sure was. Not kidding - they were awesome. And if I'm saying "awesome" you know I've just guzzled a whole pitcher of the Kool-aid.
I found it particularly perceptive when Daryl Hall said, "Huh, it used to be irony, now it's for real." Because they do seem to be that rare band that has crested the tide of sniggering asides to emerge on the other side in a wave of genuine appreciation. Just toss a 25 year old song into a hit, hip indie film (500 Days of Summer) and viola! Credibility returns!
But, lest we take it all too seriously, I've decided that I'm gonna post a nice little "remix" of a video with a special appearance by one of my favorite artists - keyboard cat. Hey, it's about to be a three day weekend. Let's bring it on home. Take it away kitty...
Wednesday I got a pair of free tickets to see Hall & Oates live. My appreciation for Daryl and John has been growing over the years, as I realize that they're probably one of the only actual legit blue-eyed soul groups with any chops. I grew up on this stuff and never really thought of it as even vaguely r&b, but the way they sang it Wednesday night it sure was. Not kidding - they were awesome. And if I'm saying "awesome" you know I've just guzzled a whole pitcher of the Kool-aid.
I found it particularly perceptive when Daryl Hall said, "Huh, it used to be irony, now it's for real." Because they do seem to be that rare band that has crested the tide of sniggering asides to emerge on the other side in a wave of genuine appreciation. Just toss a 25 year old song into a hit, hip indie film (500 Days of Summer) and viola! Credibility returns!
But, lest we take it all too seriously, I've decided that I'm gonna post a nice little "remix" of a video with a special appearance by one of my favorite artists - keyboard cat. Hey, it's about to be a three day weekend. Let's bring it on home. Take it away kitty...
9/3 - College
Have you ever looked at a Nagel painting and wondered what the vaguely Asian line drawn ice queen subject's record collection would sound like? Because I...well, okay, I totally have never wondered that. Not even anything close to that. Although I did once wonder why a guy I went home with in about 1998 would have a Nagel print on his wall - and didn't even consider it ironic! Guess what? He was bad in bed. There's a shock. Needless to say, not my finest moment. How exactly does one reconcile oneself the fact that she was chosen as a potential mate who used that same discerning taste to choose Nagel as a worthy subject of wall art in 1998? I shudder to think of these moments in my past.
So, yeah...College. I'm pretty sure the Nagel girl would like this band. It's entirely possible that I'm being influenced by the Ray Ban tippin', voyeur on the CD cover, but all this music kind of sounds a little like a Giorgio Moroder soundtrack to Risky Business. Like something you would hear in your head if you were, say, fucking Rebecca DeMornay on the hood of a Porsche. Or if you were riding a subway to meet up with the other people in your Warriors gang to fight other people with sticks and rollerskates.
Wierder still, I really like it. I think it's just that they get this feeling flat-out dead-to-rights perfect. But, by far, to me the standout is their collaboration with Electric Youth called "She Never Came Back." This song takes all the synthy moodiness and adds some chilly vocals that are almost, dare I say it, catchy. When it comes up on my iPod, I always turn it up. Especially if I'm listening to it in one ear while riding my scooter (yeah, tres illegal, I know), because it makes me feel mysterious - like a Blade Runner android plunked in the middle of a Los Angeles consumed by flames, ashes falling like grey snow on the golf course I pass on the way to work every day.
Oh, and did I mention that College is from France? Because they are.
http://www.myspace.com/collegeoflove
So, yeah...College. I'm pretty sure the Nagel girl would like this band. It's entirely possible that I'm being influenced by the Ray Ban tippin', voyeur on the CD cover, but all this music kind of sounds a little like a Giorgio Moroder soundtrack to Risky Business. Like something you would hear in your head if you were, say, fucking Rebecca DeMornay on the hood of a Porsche. Or if you were riding a subway to meet up with the other people in your Warriors gang to fight other people with sticks and rollerskates.
Wierder still, I really like it. I think it's just that they get this feeling flat-out dead-to-rights perfect. But, by far, to me the standout is their collaboration with Electric Youth called "She Never Came Back." This song takes all the synthy moodiness and adds some chilly vocals that are almost, dare I say it, catchy. When it comes up on my iPod, I always turn it up. Especially if I'm listening to it in one ear while riding my scooter (yeah, tres illegal, I know), because it makes me feel mysterious - like a Blade Runner android plunked in the middle of a Los Angeles consumed by flames, ashes falling like grey snow on the golf course I pass on the way to work every day.
Oh, and did I mention that College is from France? Because they are.
http://www.myspace.com/collegeoflove
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
9/1 - Crunchy Frog Celebrates 15 Years
Danish independent label Crunchy Frog Records will be celebrating 15 years of bringing some of the strangest, best and brightest acts to the indie scene in Denmark. To many of us on the west coast, that almost sounds like something akin to bringing together the best and brightest bands of, say, Barstow or Henderson, Nevada - but the main difference is that Denmark has itself a pretty healthy little scene out there, whether it's been neglected by we selection crazed 'mericans or not. Aside from the Raveonettes, Junior Senior and Asteroids Galaxy Tour, there has been a steady stream of ear-hugging tunes wafting through the Danish air for plenty more than a decade - as evidenced by the stellar selection of songs on Crunchy Frog-a-Logue, the 15 year celebration of all things Crunchy Frog. Yes, I like to keep saying Crunchy Frog. It's preposterously awful, Monty Python reference or not. But, luckily the music isn't.
25 bands such as Figurines, Asteroids Galaxy Tour, and The Fashion cover songs from the Crunchy Frog catalog and the result is a sweeping tour through pretty much every style of music you could find on the digital dial. The double CD is released next week for what is promised to be "CD price," whatever that means nowadays.
www.myspace.com/frogalogue
25 bands such as Figurines, Asteroids Galaxy Tour, and The Fashion cover songs from the Crunchy Frog catalog and the result is a sweeping tour through pretty much every style of music you could find on the digital dial. The double CD is released next week for what is promised to be "CD price," whatever that means nowadays.
www.myspace.com/frogalogue
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